Friday, December 26, 2008


Star Tracking Camera Mount
Originally uploaded by edhiker
Star Tracking Camera Mount, an astrotracker telescope mount used astrophotography



I'm happy with this astro tracking camera mount. Viewfinder use and tilt framing is easy. See previous photos for components ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/3131095207/ ).

This astrotracker will be used for wide field astrophotography. Two screws allow installation of original Newtonian telescope linked below.

Teflon bearing drive using clock motor was homemade about 40 years ago, still works good. Originally used for 6" F3.8 scope www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/14436002/ also seen at www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/14436035/sizes/o

Click on photo for other related photos showing how and why this was made. (Flickr URL http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/3132751114/)

Friday, December 12, 2008

Moonset, Friday Morning 12/12/08 - Largest full moon in 15 years today

A full moon, closer and larger than it has been in 15 years will occur Friday evening.

Moon is setting below storm clouds in Los Angeles, snow is due.

Stories about: news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&ncl=127964999...

Got out of bed 1 minute before this was taken, an unplanned photo! No time for a tripod.

The moon is also further up in the sky than the summer sun (82ยบ high tonight). The combination of height and size is most likely once in a lifetime. Be sure to take a look around midnight.

Sometimes the moon is not our friend, the peak of the Geminids, is predicted to occur late Saturday and early Sunday, Dec. 13-14. Bright moonlight will flood the sky.

IMG_5064_Moonset_Rain_Due - camera hand held

Moonset, Friday Morning 12/12/08 - Largest full moon in 15 years today

MSM Charting for the stock market Bottom line: not as good as the Yahoo original *** example http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AAPL&t=5d&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=Clim_UP_2-5,sptn,ivac,dwsn,iig,ryaay,vmw,avct,stx1- Ticker symbols not on chart, important time saver when multiple comparisons are called up (see Yahoo original charts)2- No way to stop pop-up box next to cursor. 3- Needs Earnings data as a "key developments" field.4- Your server is slow.----------------------------------The basic chart design is good, but in view of the above problems, Yahoo (original) charts will be used most of the time.Ed